Color signal for speedometers



June 16, 1 942.

A. w. HILLS 2,286,737

COLOR SIGNAL FOR SPEEDOMETERS Filed Aug. 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet .1

3|wentor I (ittormgs June 16, 1942. w 2,286,737

COLOR SIGNAL FOR SPEEDOMETERS Filed Aug. 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nnentor attorneys Patented June 16, 1942 i COLOR SIGNAL FOR SPEEDOMETERS Arthur W. Hills, Flushing, Micln, asslgnor to Gen- I eral Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application August 28, 1939, Serial No. 292,209

Claims.

This invention relates to speedometers for vehicles and particularly to a speed warning expedient associated with such an instrument.

The object of the invention is to associate with the speed indicating mechanism certain color signals, the colors changing with changing speed ranges whereby the operator is made aware by certain colors of safe car speeds and by a certain change of color that the car speed is entering what may be an excessive range.

A further object is the accomplishment of the major object by mechanism which is simple and inexpensive.

Other objects will be understood from the description which follows.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a speedometer embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective of related parts in disassembled relation.

Figure 5 is a section corresponding to a part of Figure 2 but on a larger scale.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-5 of Figure .5.

Figure 7 is a section on line Il of Figure 4.

Numeral II represents a casing having a circular wall I3. The front of the casing is covered by a metal wall I5. Seated upon wall I5 is an annular indicia carrying glass ll. A suitable retainer I9 and a glass cover 2! are held in place by a bezel 23. Glass I1 is etched or otherwise marked with speed indicating numerals as shown by Figure 1. At the side of the casing remote from the parts just described there is a flange 25 upon the inner circular margin of which is supported the casing 27 of a speedometer. Within the speedometer is a frame 29. A circular wall 3| with a cover 33 are also shown in Figure 2. The cover 33 and the wall I5 have registering openings 35 and 31 to render visible the figures 39 of an odometer which is as usual associated with the speedometer. At diametrically opposite points of the flange 25 there are suitable supporting means M for lamp bulbs 83. Plate I5 has openings such as 45 through which light passes to the glass plate I1. Within glass ll the light is internally reflected and is transmitted to the observer from markings on plate I'l which may be etched or otherwise produced thereon. Cooperating with the markings on glass I1 is a pointer 6'! which may be of Lucite or equivalent material. The pointer has a central hub 49 from which project diametrically opposite extensions 5|, 5|. The shape of the extension is shown by Figure 7. The hub 49 has a central opening 53 whereby it is positione upon the stem portion 55 of a bushing desi nated as a whole by numeral 51. The bushing I has a head 59 against which the hub 49 engages. The assembly is completed by a brass washer 6| against which the lower end of the stem 55 is bent over as at 63. The bushing has a tapered opening for the reception of a rotating spindle '51, the movement of which is efiected by the mechanism of the speedometer.

At one side of the hub there is an opening represented by numeral 63. It has a wall II extending substantially vertically from the top surface to the bottom surface. Merging with wall II at the bottom surface is a wall I3 extending at an angle of substantially 45 therewith. Washer 6i has an opening marked 75 which is directly beneath opening 69. This construction is arranged -nally reflected toward the hub 8|.

to permit rays of light passing through opening to be reflected from the angular surface i3 and to be transmitted by internal reflection through the extension 5!.

Wall I5 has a central opening T1, the marginal wall of which is downturned as indicated by numeral I9. Between wall 33 and wall I5 is positioned an elongated Lucite light transmitting rod 79. It has a hub 8| provided with a tapered opening 83. The lower face of the hub adjacent the opening rests on surface 33. Between the upper face and the annular projection I9 is a pyralin disk having color sections 81, 89 and BI of green, amber and red, respectively. The bearing support for spindle 6'! extends through the tapered opening 83 and is marked 80. The disk 85 is held from rotation by tongues 82 turned downwardly from plate I5 and engaging the sides of the disk and of the hub BI as shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6.

The light from the bulbs 43 is transmitted through the end parts of rod 19 and is inter- From the conical surface of opening 83 the light is reflected in a direction parallel to the axis of the hub through the plate 85. As the pointer rotates the opening IS in the washer registers with the green part of the disk 85 during the lower speed range for example up to about 30 miles per hour. The opening I5 registers with the amber part of the disk within the speed range having 30 and 50 miles per hour as its limits. For speeds above 50 miles per hour the opening I5 registers with the red portion of the plate. The colored light passing through opening 15 is reflected from the sloping'surface l3 and is 2 transmitted through the pointer by internal reflection. That end of the pointer II which is to serve in cooperation with the indicia on glass I1 is coated on its rear surface as at 93 in order to reflect light therefrom to the observer. By the construction described, not only does the pointer cooperate with the indicia to give readings in miles per hour but changes in color at 30 miles per hour and at 50 miles per hour so that the operator may be advised of the speed range within which he is driving, and may be so advised wtihout giving the instrument the attention required to determine the precise speed of travel.

I claim:

1. In a measuring instrument, a dial having indicia, a member movable to register progressively with said indicia, said movable member being adapted to transmit light by internal reflection and having a part treated to reflect light therefrom to an observer, a source of light, a means whereby light from said source to said movable member is changed in color for changed positions ofrmovement, said last named means including a light transmitting rod having a central hub formed with a conical opening, a disk fixed in position over said opening, said disk having color selecting sections, said movable member having an apertured washer through which the lightpasses, said aperture being adapted to move progressively over said sections.

2. In a measuring instrument, a dial having indicia, a member movable to register progressively with said indicia, said movable member being adapted to transmit light by internal refiection andhaving a part treated to reflect light therefrom, a source of light, means independent of said movable means whereby light from said source is transmitted to said indicia and other means whereby light from said source is transmitted to said movable member and is subjected to changes in color to correspond with changes in position of said movable member, said other means including a fixed light transmitting element having a central part, a fixed disc having a plurality of color regions overlying said central part, said part being formed to transmit light through said disc, said movable member having a washer with an aperture progressively to overlie said color regions as the movable member moves.

3. In a measuring instrument, a dial having indicia, a member movable to register progressively with said indicia, said movable member means whereby light from said source is 171'8118',

mitted to said movable member and is subjected to changes in color to correspond with changes in position of said movable member, said other means including a disc fixed in position and having a plurality of color regions, a washer movable with'said movable member and having an aperture adapted progressively to overlie said color regions as the movable member moves, light from said source being transmitted to and through said color disc, aperture and movable member in a path independent of the path by which said indicia are illuminated.

4. In a measuring instrument, a dial having indicia, a member movable to register progressively with said indicia, said movable member being adapted to transmit light by internal reflection and having a part treated to reflect light therefrom, a source of light, means independent of said movable means whereby light from said source is transmitted to said indicia and other means whereby light from said source is transmitted to said movable member and is subjected to changes in color to correspond with changes in position of said movable member, said other means including a disc fixed in position and having a plurality of color regions, a washer movable with said movable member and having an aperture adapted progressively to overlie said color regions as the movable member moves, light from said source being transmitted to and through said color disc, aperture and movable member in a path independent of the path by which said indicia are illuminated, together able member in a path independent of the path of light between the source and the color disc, said member transmitting light by internal reflection. ,4

5. In a measuring instrument, a dial having indicia, a member movable to register progressively with said indicia, said movable member being adapted to transmit light by internal reflection and having a part treated to reflect light therefrom, a source of light, means independent of said movable means whereby light from said source is transmitter to said indicia and'other means whereby light from said source is transmitted to said movable member and is subjected to changes in color to correspond with changes in position of said movable member, said other means including a disc fixed in position and having a plurality of color regions, a washer movable with said movable member and having an aperture adapted progressively to overlie said color regions as the movable member moves, light from said source being transmitted to and through said color disc, aperture and movable member in a path independent of the path by which said indicia are illuminated, said source of light, comprising spaced light bulbs, a rod having its ends adjacent said bulbs and an intermediate part underlying said color disc, said rod constructed to transmit light from said bulbs to said intermediate part by internal reflection and therefrom through said color disc and aperture.

ARTHUR W. HILLS.

CERTIFICATE OF comcnon. Patent No. 2,286,757. June 16, 191 .2.

ARTHUR. W. HILLS,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed-specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows Page 2, sec-- 0nd column, line 51, 'claimh, strike out the syllable and words Pable'r'nemoer ina path independent of the path" and insert instead --with a member constituting a part of the path; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein thatthe same may confonn to'the recond of the case in the Patent Office.'

Signed and sealed this 28th day of July, A. D. 191m.

- Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) I Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

